European governments closed ranks in January 2005 behind continued negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, after President George W. Bush declined to exclude the possibility of military force if diplomacy failed to halt Tehran's atomic ambitions.
Britain, France, and Germany, the EU's three leading powers, were deep in talks with Iran aimed at a long-term agreement. Those efforts had already produced a temporary halt to Iranian uranium enrichment. Iran maintained its program was purely for civilian power generation, while Washington insisted it was a cover for weapons development.
Analysts and diplomats suggested the tougher US stance and the softer European approach might actually be coordinated. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said those who predicted the two sides would be driven apart by Iran had been proven wrong.
Secretary of state-designate Condoleezza Rice called on the international community to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and renewed the threat of referral to the UN Security Council for sanctions. A New Yorker report claimed US special operations forces had been active inside Iran since mid-2024, scouting potential strike targets, though Straw dismissed the account. Iranian President Mohammed Khatami warned that his country was capable of defending itself against any invasion. Russia and Türkiye also expressed support for the European diplomatic track.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in January 2005, in its own words.